Verified Buyer, 04 January 2024

Montreal was certainly a pretty city, clean and charming in its way, but not the Old World Paris of the West that I had expected. Downtown was pretty much like any other big city, architecturally and otherwise--though a little cleaner than most. And it certainly seemed safer than some. A few beautiful cathedrals and churches, and the old city--down by the river and docks, with its quaint architecture, cobblestone streets, and colorful carved-wood shop signs--was worth a half-day stroll. The underground city (interconnected underground malls and subway stops) was certainly nice--something I wish American cities could boast, and public transport (subway and buses) was great. But all things considered, I think I prefer Toronto--better museums, more diversity, same old world architecture and beautiful churches, and a better underground city, with more shopping and sightseeing options. Montreal was a nice place for a business trip, and certainly a beautiful city to visit if you're close or too rich to care, but in my opinion it doesn't have enough singular attractions to make it a vacation destination. (I was there during a rainy November, however, so maybe it has more charm during the summer when Mount Royal and the quay paths can be hiked/biked, when the flowers are out, etc.)